WE ARE DONE WITH THAT SHIT

WE ARE DONE WITH THAT SHIT

By Andy Weddington

Wednesday, 01 October 2025

Emphasis in the Marine Corps isn't on talking about your feelings.  - Adam Driver

After at least a 20 years void, including retired generals, a no nonsense warrior mans point in the Pentagon.

Leadership! Finally. 

Fifteen years ago I stopped recommending youth consider the Marine Corps. Not long thereafter all services. 

That position came about because a nephew I encouraged enlist, and he did (becoming a Marine infantryman with two deployments to Iraq), half-way through enlistment told me he was getting out.

Why?

Because things were not the same. He detailed. As if a switch had been flipped. 

Disturbing. Right decision. Though it saddened me.

His years of honorable service 2006-2010.

Draw your own conclusion.  

His midpoint was the beginnings of all things woke. 

All those things, and more, got worse. And worse. 

And my position evolved from quietly not recommending to loudly discouraging. 

Why?

Simply for not having any credibility whatsoever as to what a young person could expect - enlisted or officer. 

And yesterday a young man - warrior - spoke for 45 minutes to a theater packed with admirals, generals, senior enlisted (and a world-wide audience) laying down law all things woke is over ...

"We are done with that shit!"

All that shit has eaten away at appearance, culture, fitness, lethality, readiness, and more. 

I cheered! 

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth reminded the audience of the military's business: We kill people and break things. 

That culture and capability will be restored.

He served notice everything those in uniform will do hence forward will align to killing and breaking.  

Winning wars, no one wants, the objective. 

Secretary Hegseth covered a lot. 

Physical fitness. 

He sets the example. 

And he told the admirals and generals, fat ones notably, you will set the example. 

Not his words but mine - perspire, inspire, and lose the fat tire or retire. 

Rank is not privilege to disregard appearance and fitness standards. 

Since the woke cancer I've seen fat Marine generals. 

That easily explained: Commandants absent courage to carry out their professional duty; which carried over into other areas. 

Forty-six years ago a Marine captain impressed the shit out of me. 

The late Colonel Howard Florence, then captain, was my Officer Selection Officer (OSO). In short, Marine officer recruiter. 

In dress blue trousers and short sleeve khaki shirt - immaculate - he looked like something Michelangelo sculpted from granite. 

His carriage, confidence, eye contact, manner of speaking, et al., was remarkable. He was an infantry officer; Vietnam combat.

An iconic recruiting poster: We Don't Promise You a Rose Garden with secondary message - The Marine Corps Builds Men complemented Captain Florence's Marine Corps pitch. 

He layed out the challenge - Do you think you have what it takes to be a Marine officer? To lead Marines?

He sold me. I wanted to be like him.

And so did the guys (from all over America) - we prevailed through entry-level training, advanced training, MOS training and went on to serve in the operating forces. 

Later sometimes crossing paths. The Marine Corps is small that way. You cross paths. 

Some served four years. Some careers. But that beyond words common bond, sometimes called 'esprit de Corps', endures.

When things started going south in the Marine Corps in late 2000s unanimous disgust.

Nearly all came to the same conclusion - cannot anymore, in good faith, recommend service. 

Most angering was destruction tracked back to the top - weak; where cause of failure always rests. 

No doubt some admirals and generals left yesterday's brief with intent to retire soon. Good.  

No doubt some admirals and generals will die soon, too. Not good. But so goes return to rigorous exercise (happened 30 years ago when Marine colonels were likewise ordered to pass semi-annual physical fitness test and today the added concern of being covid vaxxed). 

There's so much, but ...

The Secretary of War issued clear, simple, actionable guidance.

Now critical is to inspect what you expect against timelines. 

Certainly teams in place to track progress. 

Secretary Hegseth left impression of a sense of urgency - action must move at double not quick time. 

Even that may not be fast enough. 

Enemies do not half-step.

Oh to be a young Marine today.  

Bravo! Mr. Secretary.